TENNIS

TENNIS; Courier and Martin Send U.S. to Semifinals

By ROBIN FINN

Published: July 19, 1998

INDIANAPOLIS, July 18—
After 3 hours 30 minutes of combat, the United States decisively eliminated visiting Belgium, 3-0, this overheated afternoon in the Davis Cup quarterfinals. A last-minute doubles pairing of Jim Courier and Todd Martin, along with a fifth-set fadeout by Belgium's 11th-hour pairing of Johan Van Herck and 17-year-old Xavier Malisse, proved the turnkey.

Much of the match was conducted head-on at the net with more than one collision of hurtling tennis balls and sunburned bodies, but the red-faced players from the United States eventually got the better of the red-faced Belgians. ''It was unsettling,'' said Courier of his walk-on role, ''but we finally got it together in the fifth set.''

The American duo's protracted 5-7, 6-2, 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 victory against the Belgian underdogs sent the United States team into the semifinals against Italy, which clinched its quarterfinal against Zimbabwe by 3-0 today on red clay in Prato, Italy. The singles matches to complete this quarterfinal will be a mere formality on Sunday. The semifinal with Italy will be played in the United States Sept. 25-27.

Today Courier replaced Richey Reneberg, who is scheduled for arthroscopic knee surgery next week. Reneberg, ranked 27th in doubles and the only genuine doubles specialist in the United States-Belgian mix, suffered a slight tear of cartilage in his left knee during practice. Van Herck replaced Filip Dewulf, who made no secret of his aversion to these hardcourts after being beaten by Courier on Friday.

''We were all kind of in the same boat,'' Courier said of the hodgepodge of players that wound up playing this pivotal match. No one had much personal experience playing alongside or against each other.

''What made the difference was a few clutch shots by us in the fourth-set tie breaker,'' said Martin, referring to the way Courier fixed a 2-3 deficit there with a great serve and half-volley combination. ''It's little things like that that send a message to the other team: 'You give us your best stuff and we're occasionally up to it.' '' Martin called the product of his and Courier's efforts ''ugly but good.''

Van Herck and Malisse, who had left Belgium and its tennis federation far behind to train on the fast track at the Bollettieri Sports Academy in Florida last year, were not well-acquainted. But the gallows scenario in which they found themselves helped them bond quickly for the sake of survival. And their intent rapport was the reason this match went the distance. ''For sure it was not a top doubles team we were playing,'' Van Herck said, ''and we weren't a top doubles team, but we did our best.''

The showiest shots, including a second serve ace at 3-5 of the fourth set's tie breaker, belonged to Malisse, who gave glimmers of the stardom Nick Bollettieri has predicted for him.

According to Tom Gullikson, the United States captain, Malisse is one of the top two prospects in the world, the other being 18-year-old Marat Safin of Russia.

''It was a good experience,'' Malisse said. ''There's no reason to be sad.''

MATCH POINTS

The personnel for Sunday's singles matches, now mere two-of-three-set exhibitions, was left halfway undecided. JIM COURIER said he expected to play CHRISTOPHE VAN GARSSE in the second match, but it was not clear whether ANDRE AGASSI or FILIP DEWULF would be in the lineup.